Paul Casey: I can still become a major star

Paul Casey’s belief he is going to win a major has not been shaken by his disappointing finish at St Andrews, which has also dented his hopes of making Europe’s Ryder Cup team.

Optimistic: Paul Casey had to settle for joint third after Sunday’s final round of the 139th Open Championship (Pic: Getty)

Casey, second overnight to eventual Open winner Louis Oosthuizen, faded with a back nine of 40, including a triple-bogey seven at the 12th, handing second place to Lee Westwood .

By dropping to joint-third with Rory McIlroy and Henrik Stenson on eight under par, eight behind, Casey did not even have the consolation of climbing into an automatic qualifying spot on the Ryder Cup table.

Casey said: ‘I’m trying to take the positives out of this because six months ago I had no idea if I was going to get back to this sort of form again. I’m pain-free [he suffered a torn rib muscle last summer], I’m hitting it good and we’ve still got one major left this year.

‘I know I’m going to win a major, it’s just a matter of time. This week just wasn’t my week.’

Asked if so many Europeans on the leaderboard was a good sign ahead of the showdown at Celtic Manor, the world No.8 added: ‘Yeah. I need to get on that team, though, first.’

The points race ends in six weeks but with European Tour earnings providing Casey’s best route into the team, his cause is not helped by him playing in Canada, rather than Sweden, this week.

Captain Colin Montgomerie, meanwhile, claimed he was delighted with the European showing at St Andrews.

‘Things couldn’t be going much better when you look at the leaderboard with Casey and Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Henrik Stenson,’ Montgomerie, who names his vice-captains on Tuesday, told the BBC.

‘We’ve had our first British winner of the US Open for 40 years [Graeme McDowell], Lee Westwood almost won the Masters and who says we won’t do so again at the US PGA next month?’